chapter 39
Episode 39
“…Understood.”
In the pitch-black darkness, a hooded figure nodded deeply and replied.
“Yes, I am aware of the existence of the optimal ‘sacrifice’ in this territory, as you have mentioned.”
– ….
“It seemed as if she had recently blossomed her talent. In that case, it shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain it.”
– ….
“Of course, it is not an easy task while the priests are not present in the area, but I do not think my faith is lacking.”
The figure continued speaking as if having a conversation with someone unknown.
“…Yes, it is true that there was a failure. I did not believe in Silo, that wretch.”
– ….
“That is why I want to make amends myself.”
Kwoong!
At that moment, the space surrounding the figure violently swayed.
As if the figure’s conversation partner had shown quite a vigorous reaction.
However, the figure remained unfazed, simply bowing its head without any movement.
“I want you, grant this humble servant an opportunity to be of help to him.”
– ….
The space that was violently swaying soon came to a stop at those words. Then, a voice that only the figure could hear slowly spread.
I shall permit it.
At those words, the figure quietly closed its eyes. If permission had been granted, the figure knew what it had to do.
“As the executor of the Order.”
The figure slowly rose to its feet.
“I shall offer a valuable sacrifice to him. So….”
The whip coiled around the figure’s arms began to move like a snake.
A brilliant purple light, like no other, emanated from beneath the hood, casting light into the darkness.
“O Mother of Despair, please accept this sacrifice with joy.”
The Chaos Order.
The executor of the Order began to move in earnest.
* * *
“….”
Lepentier is dying.
More precisely, one could say that his human dignity is dying.
“It’s not too bad.”
And I nodded as I saw Lepentier, whose dignity was half dead.
“Money and magic are indeed the best. Is there anything that can’t be done without them? He even reduced his muscle mass and height, just created a completely different person.”
“Your Highness, I wish to die.”
“Even if you die, complete your mission and die. I’ve told you. This is for world peace, right?”
Lepentier(who) asked me.
“No, what does my cross-dressing have to do with world peace, Your Highness?”
Oh, the voice got louder.
He must know who he’s talking to, but it seems like he’s been scratched a lot this time.
But what can I do.
There are limits even to deceiving with magic. Apart from this guy, there is no one else with the skills of a knight and a body refined enough to accept magic.
Basically, he’s handsome too.
In other words, he is the most suitable candidate among the knights I can take with me for cross-dressing.
As if to prove that my eyes were right, Lepentier, who had finished cross-dressing, looked almost identical to Rachel.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Lepentier is feminine.
Lepentier sighed and said with difficulty, “I… understand. Isn’t this a way to attract fanatics?”
“Yes.”
“Fanatics are targeting Lady Rachel, and Your Highness plans to use that against them…?”
“That’s right.”
As I nodded, Lepentier looked up at the sky with a complex expression.
“…I understand that Your Highness is trying to do something very noble, but what should I say…”
He lowered his gaze again, sending his gaze toward the sky-blue skirt.
“Wearing this, my confidence suddenly disappears like a ghost…”
“Is it a manly act?”
“Oh, yes…”
With no enthusiasm, Lepentier nodded.
“Anyway, please tell me the plan. I will follow it.”
“Can you?”
“I’ll do my best…”
Even though his voice was dying, he never said he couldn’t do it.
Then he’ll do well.
Even though Lepentier is now unreliable, when faced with fanatics, he is a talent who can wield a sword sharply.
“I leaked information that Lady Rachel is planning to visit the estate today.”
“Won’t they be suspicious over there? If news spreads suddenly that Lady Rachel is leaving the mansion, even the fanatics…”
“I handled it naturally. And I also said that Lady Rachel has something to do, so she’s leaving the mansion.”
That information is none other than NamGung-joo-sun.
Since that incident, NamGung-joo-sun has been actively operating as an informant.
In the process, he is helping me in various ways.
Naturally leaking false information to the chaos church or handling it like this is one of them.
There is no doubt about his skill as an informant.
Anyway, if those who know about Rachel hear this information, they will never just let it pass.
‘The fanatics have probably already realized Rachel’s awakening.’
Those guys are quick to notice, to the point where it’s strange.
They might have given hints through the oracle of Jormungand.
“If they have obtained the information, they have to move. In a way, it might be their last chance.”
“Calling it their last chance…”
“The problem is the socialite… I mean, the chaos church strictly manages their believers based on performance.”
How many sacrifices were made to help Jormungand. In other words, if the performance is too low, there is a possibility of being discarded.
The chaos branch that was responsible for the grave is at a dead end.
“Even a small ‘trigger’ can make them go wild.”
“…Is Lady Rachel’s value as a sacrifice that high?”
“It’s so high that it’s unspeakable.”
I recalled the time before regression and shook my head.
“If Lady Rachel is offered as a sacrifice, a monster that even the highest-ranking master would find difficult to handle will appear.”
“!”
“Since Setarim is still at the level of a lower-grade master, even if five knights of that level combine their skills, it is difficult to guarantee victory.”
There are no more than five intermediate or higher masters in the Empire.
There is only one top-grade master, and that top-grade master is currently inactive in hiding.
In other words.
“The moment she awakens, the grave domain will be destroyed.”
I can’t handle a priest who has succeeded in completely awakening as I am now.
Before the regression, I faced the 6th priest, Kaedium.
‘The one who is planning to awaken through Rachel is also a priest.’
The 4th priest, Rediak.
Known as the ‘Queen of Despair,’ she made a significant contribution to increasing the believers of the chaos church.
Rediak, who received Rachel’s abilities in full, was able to mentally dominate her opponents.
Of course, there is no intention of awakening Rediak at this point.
“They are bait that can’t help but bite. And I have no intention of sparing them.”
“…”
“From your perspective, you wouldn’t want to see a tragedy like the orphanage happen again, would you?”
“…That’s correct.”
Whether he recalled that time or not, strength entered Lepentier’s fist.
“But Your Highness… She is also an important person to you. After hearing Your Highness’s explanation, this mission seems overly dangerous.”
“Well, there might be a way to send a skilled knight in my place.”
Maybe even if I do that, I might succeed according to my original plan.
However.
“Even then, I can’t be 100% sure of success.”
“……”
“I think it’s better for me to intervene directly. Besides, I have a reason to hunt down those cultists myself.”
The more I hunt the followers of chaos, the more I feel the growth of the Ouroboros within me.
Since I’ve decided to use the Ouroboros, there’s no reason to pass up this opportunity.
At my words, Lepentier nodded.
“I understand.”
“You know what I’ve been doing all along. You can trust me.”
Lepentier nodded quietly at my words, as if saying that saying more would be disrespectful.
That’s how we arrived at the square in the center of Silencia.
The square was bustling with people, and the more people I saw, the more Lepentier’ expression became lifeless.
“Your Highness, won’t my disguise be seen through? Won’t we be exposed?”
“Trust me. The disguise magic is divine and invincible.”
“Divine, disguise magic is, divine… and invincible…”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Ignoring Lepentier’ soulless murmurs, I looked around.
I don’t sense the presence of zealots right away.
“Hmm.”
I checked the disc Rachel handed me, but I didn’t sense any immediate signs of Jormungand-related activity in the area.
There’s no doubt about its performance, so for now, at this moment, it really seems that there’s none nearby…
“It’s still more cautious than I thought.”
It could be that I’m just observing the situation where the influence of this disc does not reach.
I can’t be sure of the exact detection range of this disc yet.
And I didn’t expect the bait to be taken so soon.
Even if Rachel is a tempting target from their perspective, they still have to be cautious.
Then.
“I have to make the bait take.”
Make them come out on their own, make the situation inevitable.
—
The executor of the Chaos Church, Carlos, quietly watched the two figures in the distance.
“As expected.”
Through the church’s information network, he learned that Lady Rachel was planning to go outside.
It wasn’t easy.
The schedule of someone like the daughter of a marquis was almost top-secret information. Naturally, it wasn’t easy to get hold of it.
The fact that the information source who could get hold of the information was from the same continent as him,it bothered him a bit.
“It doesn’t matter.”
The issue with the information source from that continent has also been verified to some extent.
He had a grudge against Grave Marquis and had friction with the Marquis. That was the situation.
– Just thinking about the job that day makes me nervous?
He still remembers the strange name of the information source, Namgoong Joo-sun.
As Carlos moved his steps, his presence began to fade little by little.
It wasn’t just him.
There were church followers watching the situation from a distance, centered around the Lady.
If Carlos just gestured in this state, there were faithful ones who would rush in even at the cost of their lives.
He slowly, little by little, narrowed the distance with Rachel.
There was a knight guarding the Lady, but he didn’t pay attention.
He wasn’t Sword Master Setarim Weaver, just a knight who looked ordinary with an unknown name.
Disguised in such an extraordinarily ordinary appearance, when he took one more step toward the Lady in the crowd…
Chill.
Suddenly, a cold feeling came over him, and he shivered involuntarily.
“Why?”
Why did he stop moving for a moment?
He couldn’t explain it, but it felt like instinct had grabbed his ankle. He shouldn’t get any closer.
“……”
But Carlos, with a grimace, tried to ignore that instinctual outcry.
As an executor of the church, this case was an important matter that he could not retreat from.
“It’s okay. I’ve checked multiple times.”
The guard protecting the Lady is nothing special. After all, this sudden outing of the Lady is related to a sudden ‘awakening’.
An unscheduled, secretive outing.
She probably brought a knight she personally brought.
Considering the power he feels, he must be an ordinary knight.
– Shall I close the distance a little more as the executor? The Lady is heading in the direction as expected.
“……”
Carlos hesitated for a moment. Should he ignore his instinct and narrow the distance, or should he wait for a better opportunity…?
– I’ll narrow it down.
However, Carlos chose his sense of responsibility and mission.
Missing such a critical opportunity was not allowed as an executor of the church.
And at the same time.
“Ha.”
Kyle, disguised as a knight, smiled bitterly at the corner of his mouth as he watched the situation.
“he asked.”
Finally, they took the bait